Effects of dry water hyacinth supplementation in total mixed ration on production performance and costs of growing-finishing rabbits
2011
Hongsapak, T. | Piasai, L., Kasetsart Univ., Nakhom Pathom 73140 (Thailand). Small Ruminant Research and Development Center | Rattanatabtimtong, S., Kasetsart Univ., Nakhom Pathom 73140 (Thailand). Dept. of Animal Science
An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dry water hyacinth supplementation in total mixed ration (TMR) on growth performance, carcass trait and production cost of growing-finishing rabbits. Fourty-eight New Zealand White Rabbits (84 days of age) were used in Completely Randomized Design experiment. The animals were divided into four groups of six replications with two rabbits per replication each. Each group of the animal was randomly assigned to a dietary treatment as follows: Diet1- Concentrate and roughage ad libitum, Diet2- TMR contains dry cassava leaves 15%, Diet3- TMR contains dry water hyacinth 15%, and Diet4- TMR contains dry water hyacinth 25%. At day 56 of experiment, 4 rabbits per group were randomly slaughtered for the carcass trait. The results showed that the group receiving Diet3 had significantly higher feed intake and average daily feed intake than those fed with other diets (P0.05), but no significant difference, with the group receiving Diet4. There were no significant differences in final body weight, weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio among groups. Furthermore, the percentage of carcass, leather, meat and bone were not significantly different among groups. In addition, the group receiving Diet3 and 4 had the significantly lower production cost than those fed with other diets (P0.01). It is indicated that dry water hyacinth could be applied at 15-25% of TMR diet without adverse effect on growth performances and carcass trait and could reduce the production cost.
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